Proteinuria: The Body Fails To Recognize Its Building Blocks
Diabetes is a disease which is classically identified by the high glucose levels it brings about in the blood, which leads to a number of complications in the body, many of which are long-term and even fatal. Most of these complications are caused by the high levels of glucose in the blood - a result of the body's inability to make use of this glucose as energy to nourish and sustain itself. The high glucose content of the blood inflicts severe damage to the blood vessels, leading to conditions like diabetic retinopathy, nerve damage and even heart disease. An equally potent, but much lesser known condition brought about by diabetes is Proteinuria, which like diabetes, is slow and deceptive in its development.
Literally defined, Proteinuria is the condition in which your urine contains a lot more protein than is normal. This condition arises on account of an anomaly in the functioning of the kidneys, whose function is to filter out the waste products and discard them along with your urine, leaving behind the essential nutrients that your body needs. Proteins play a vital role in muscle growth and repair and are thus essential for normal and healthy functioning.
In a healthy body, the protein particles are too big to be discarded with the other waste material and are thus retained by the body. However, when an individual is afflicted with diabetes, his kidneys are negatively affected by blood-vessel damage that it suffers and thus is unable to retain these protein particles. As a result, the body loses out on the essential building blocks it needs to sustain itself and grow, thus impairing the victims physical health in both the short and the long term.
Initially, albumin is the only protein to be excreted by your kidneys as a result of Proteinuria. However, when this disease complicates, several other kinds of proteins are flushed out of your body as well. This is a sure sign that your kidneys have already suffered a tremendous amount of damage, which over time, can result in kidney failure.
The blood-vessel damage that diabetics suffer from makes their particularly susceptible to Proteinuria and it is highly recommended that you undertake routine checks to arrest this disease at its nascent phase. Research has also established that the risk for individuals suffering from Type 1 Diabetes is the same as those who are afflicted with Type 2 Diabetes. Proteinuria tests examine your urine for traces of protein, and especially the kind of protein excreted, which in turn will determine how severe your condition is.
Non-clinical signs of this disease manifest themselves in the form of foamy urine, and swelling in your hands, face, feet and abdomen. However, these conditions only unfold when the disease has already reached its mature stage and so, waiting for these symptoms to show up will only mean that you are giving this disease a leeway to wreck long-lasting havoc on your health and are making it that much more difficult for your body to regain its normal course of functioning.
Treatment for diabetes-instigated Proteinuria is primarily targeted at bringing your blood glucose levels within the recommended range, so that the risk of developing complications is significantly cut down. If your diabetes is already complicated with high blood pressure, then you may also be prescribed medication like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers to help restore the functioning of your kidneys. As with any other diabetes-induced condition, Proteinuria can easily be averted by simply paying attention to the diabetes basics of a planned and balanced diet as well as regular, moderated exercise. By simply keeping your blood glucose well-within the acceptable limits, you could effortlessly steer your body away from the gamut of complications that diabetes brings about!